Improvement in potato-digger



h'iniltd tant @anni @William W. A. FIELD, OF SCIIUYLKILL HAVEN, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 89,571, dated May 4, 1869.

IMPRovL-MENT 1N PoTATo-DIGGER Tho Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the name.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W. A. FIELD, of Schuylkil Haven, in the county of Schuylkill, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved Im'- plement, or Device for Digging Potatoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, refe-rence being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side sectional view of my invention, taken in the line x fig. 2.

Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

This invention relates to-an improvement in that class of potatddiggers in which a share or scoop is used in connection with a stationary screen and rotary clearer or separator.

The invention consists in a peculiar construction of the clearer or separator, to wit, a cylinder or shaft, having arms or teeth attached, which are arranged in spiral rows, and placed in such relation with the stationary screen as to operate in a very efficient Inanner, as hereinafter described.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it. v

A represents the frame of the implement, and Bl 'the beam, which is supported at its front end by a wheel, G'.

The frame A is formed of two parallel sides, a a, and has two handles,-b b, attached to it, which are inclined and constructed similar to ordinary plow-handies.

The frame A and beam B may, if desired, be formed of one piece of wood, and to the ame A there are secured two metal side-plates, c c, between which a share, D, is secured.

This share is an inclined plane, pointed or of V- form at its front part, so that it may readily penetrate the earth, as will be fully understood by referring to tig. 1.

The back part of the share D terminates in a screen, E, which is formed by slotting the back part ofl share D. The screen is slightly curved, as shown in iig. 1, and projects some distance beyond the back of the sideplates c c.

The device is supported by two wheels, d d, the axle e of which passes through the side-plates c c.

` The peripheries f the wheels d may be provided I with lugs f, to prevent slipping, and the axle e, near one of the wheels d, is provided with a pinion, g, which gears into a correspondingr pinion, h, on a shaft, c', the bearings of which are in the side-plates c c.

The shaft i is parallel with the axle c of thewheels d d, and on the shaft 'c' there is placed aseries of rows of teeth or arms j, which project radially from the shaft t.

The rows of teeth or arms j have a spiral form or position on the shaft t', as shown clearly in fig. 2, and the teeth or arms are of such a length that they project a short distance through the screen-E, as shown in fig. 1.

The operation is as follows:

As the implement is drawn along, the share D penetrates the earth below the potatoes in the hills or drills, and the potatoes and earth are. forced up the share D, and upon the screen E, by the forward or draught-movement of the device.

The shaft t', as the implement moves along, is rotated by the gearing g h, and the teeth or arms j pass through the screen, and serve to separate the earth from'the potatoes, the earth passing through the screen, and the potatoes falling from the back part thereof.

The teeth or arms j, in consequence of being placed on the shaft t in spiral rows, continually agitate the earth. on the screen E, and insure a perfect separation of the earth from 'the potatoes. If the teeth were placed in straight rows their action would be intermittent, and the operation not so perfect.

It will be understood .that the rows of teeth have such a spiral position or curve, and the several rows placed at such a distance apart, that just previous to the last tooth of one of the rows leaving the screen, the irst tooth of the succeeding row enters it, hence the continuous action of the teeth, as previously alluded to. This is an important feature, therefore, for it insures the perfect operation of the machine.

I do not claim, separately, any ofthe parts; but

I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the share D, stationary screen E, and rotary clearer i j, when these several parts are constructed and arranged as herein specified.

YV. A. FIELD.

Witnesses JNO. W. KooNs, GEORGE KAUFMAN. 

